University of Edinburgh staff facing redundancy have criticised principal Sir Peter Mathieson over a claimed £10,000 bill to relocate his cat and dog from Hong Kong.
The university is undergoing restructuring to save £140 million, with 1,800 job losses expected. Staff being assessed for redundancy have pointed to spending linked to Mathieson, 67, who previously said he did not know his own £421,667 salary.
Relocation package details
In 2018, Mathieson benefited from a £26,000 relocation budget when he moved from the University of Hong Kong. The package included a sum allocated to relocating his cat and dog.
One staff source said: “People are stressed, they are being scored and it’s all because the university is in such a terrible financial situation.
“However, what sticks in people’s throats is that the principal isn’t at threat of losing his job.
“Staff with families, mortgages, cars and bills are being scored by someone who was paid £26,000 to move – which included what is understood to be the £10,000 cost of bringing his cat and dog to the UK.
“Staff have never forgotten that. If that is not the definition of a fat cat boss, I don’t know what is.”
Political reaction
Tory education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher said: “It is completely unacceptable for university staff to be facing the axe while eye-watering sums of money are being spent on perks and expenses for the principal.
“Students and staff are being told there is no money, yet the university somehow found thousands of pounds to relocate a principal’s pets. University leaders should be showing restraint and leading by example when jobs and courses are under threat.”
Labour education spokesperson Jenny Young said: “The prospect of job losses will bring a great deal of uncertainty and concern for hard-working staff.
“It will be especially galling for the workforce that they are experiencing this instability while Peter Mathieson receives such a large salary.”
Strikes and programme closures
Tomorrow, members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the university begin five weeks of strikes in the long-running dispute. It follows the announcement two weeks ago that 90 programmes face closure.
Edinburgh UCU branch co-president Cecile Menard said: “Peter Mathieson claims the university is under severe financial pressure and they need to cut jobs and programmes, but he is still paying himself this astronomical salary. It is absurd.”
The Sunday Mail has previously reported on costs associated with Mathieson taking up the role. In the past seven years, he has had three pay rises, taking his remuneration package to at least £422,000 as of July last year.
The University of Edinburgh did not respond to a request for comment.
